Textile fiber web forming and feeding apparatus and method



F. REITERER Dec. 22, 1970 TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR:FEEINNAND Ra fERE-R F. REITERER TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 5-, 1988 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOE:E\TERER Dec. 22, 1970 R R 3,548,461

TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug."5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inn "r :1 0E2": VIA /4 FEI2D\NAN[ RElTEEE-RDec. 22, 1970 n- 3,548,461

TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 5,1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FERNNANB PEH'EYZER I NVENTOR.

Dec. 22, 1970 Q F. REITERER TEXTILE FIBER WEB FORMING AND FEEDINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 1 968 5 SheetsSheet 5 Pworz. ART

' 'INVENTOR FEl2b\N/-\Nb REH'ERER H4, HW

. Pmoxz ART 9 United States Patent US. Cl. 19-105 8 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLDSURE An apparatus for and method of feeding textile fibers asthey are introduced into the upper end of an upright chute whose openbottom is positioned closely above a pair of rotary calender rolls,wherein a pair of shutters defining the bottom portion of the chute areoscillated laterally at such amplitude and frequency as to repeatedlysqueeze the fibers therebetween while forcing a substantial portionthereof upwardly and then to permit them to fall so as to intermix andform them into a lightly compacted mass of substantially uniform densityas they approach the calender rolls. A vertically reciprocating packermay be provided for imparting an intermittent downwardly yielding forceto the fibers between the shutters to aid in improving the uniformity ofthe density of the fibers as they are delivered to the calender rolls.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSer. No. 422,633, now abandoned, filed Dec. 31, 1964, and entitledTextile Fiber Web Forming and Feeding Apparatus and Method.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for feedingfibers and which is particularly, but not exclusively, adapted for usein feeding fibers from opening machinery directly to carding machines.

The use of upright rectangular tubular chutes or deposit shafts forfeeding fibers to textile machines, such as carding machines, is wellknown. Heretofore, fibers have been conveyed to such tubular depositshafts by a pneumatic conveyor or by slat-type aprons. Such conveyingcircuits are usually very long and therefore the fibers are dischargedvery irregularly into the deposit shafts.

It is known that it is essential that the web issue from a cardingmachine very evenly, the regularity of the issuing web depending uponthe regularity in the weight per unit length and width of the fibrousmass fed into the carding machine. It is therefore necessary to doeverything possible to minimize the unfavorable effects which resultfrom irregular discharge of the fibers or tufts into the deposit shafts.Thus, prior art deposit shafts had to be of considerable height so thelevel of the fibers therein could be maintained at a height such thatthe fibers in the lower portion of the shaft would be under relativelyheavy pressure effected by the weight of all the fibers in the shaft. Inthis manner, the density of the mass or Web of fibers issuing from thedeposit shaft could be rendered uniform within certain limits. However,since the pressure exerted by the weight of the fibers maintained at aconstant level in the shaft constituted the only control for the densityof the fibers, the regularity of the mass was constantly influenced bythe extent of uniformity to which the fibers were disentangled by theopening machinery.

In practice, it is practically impossible to achieve a uniform degree ofdisentangling, since there may be considerable differences in thecharacteristics of the fibers; particularly when waste material isblended with new fi- 3,548,461 Patented Dec. 22, 1970 bers, which isnearly always the case and, when cotton fibers are used, they frequentlyform into balls which are more or less compressed, depending upon theirorigin.

As heretofore stated, the pressure exerted upon the fibers in the lowerportion of the shaft depends upon the height of the level of the fiberstherein so that it has been necessary that the shafts or tubular chutesbe of considerable height. Consequently, their use with a conveyingcircuit is possible only in buildings with a sutiiciently high ceiling,which are not always available. Further, the prior art type of feedingdevice with a large capacity deposit shaft necessarily had to beoperated continuously to avoid irreparable irregularities caused by theunavoidable packing of fibers resulting from shutting down the plant orother stoppage of the feeding device over extended periods of time. Inpractice, when the prior type of feeding device was stopped for anymaterial length of time, it has been necessary to completely empty thedeposit shaft, with a resultant loss of time and production.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a chute-type feedingapparatus and method which overcomes the aforementioned difficultiesinherent in conventional feeding devices of this type.

It is a further object to provide a method and apparatus for feeding andcondensing loose fibers to form a web of substantially uniform densityirrespective of the mass of the fibers being fed, and wherein asubstantially upright open bottomed chute is employed with a pair ofcalender rolls adjacent the open bottom of the chute. The inventionincludes method and means for repeatedly applying a lateral compressiveforce to the mass of fibers in the lower portion of the chute and thensubstantially releasing such compressive force at frequent intervals,wherein the compressive force is so applied and is of such amplitude asto thrust a substantial proportion of the fibers upwardly in the chuteso that each time the compressive force is released, the thus upwardlythrust fibers will fall so that their own weight and the kinetic energythus produced in the fibers produce a gradually increasing compacting ofthe fibers from the top to the bottom of the mass, thereby ensuring thatthe fibers are delivered to the calender rolls at substantially uniformdensity at all times during the repeated application and release of suchcompressive force.

In other words, the intermittent lateral compression; which is ofprogressively increasing amplitude from an upper portion of thefibrousmass to the open bottom of the chute, causes vertical upward elongationof the mass by the lifting movement applied to the column of fibers.Thus, upon the mass of fibers being suddenly released, the column offibers moves downwardly by gravity. Such vertical movement or agitationof the fibers applies an evening action to the mass and results inimproved uniformity and density of the mass of fibers, without twistingor balling the fibers, as the cross-sectional area of the mass isreduced adjacent the calender rolls.

The invention also includes method and means in the form of a verticallyreciprocating partition or packer for intermittently applying apredetermined downward yielding force to an elongate relatively narrowarea of fibers in a medial portion of the chute adjacent and above thecalender rolls, and for simultaneously applying an intermittent lateralsqueezing force to the mass of fibers adjacent opposite sides of saidarea while progressively reducing the thickness of said mass of fibersas it advances toward and is withdrawn from the chute by the calenderrolls.

Another object of the invention is to provide at least one shutter, andpreferably two opposed shutters, located adjacent the lower end of anupright chute, each of the shutters being pivoted at its upper portionso the two shutters may converge downwardly toward each other, andwherein means are provided for substantially simultaneously oscillatingthe shutters inwardly and outwardly about their respective substantiallyhorizontal axes so as to repeatedly compress and release the fibers attheir zone of action and progressively reduce the thickness of the massin its course toward a pair of compressing cylinders located adjacentthe open lower end of the chute.

Although the aforementioned vertically reciprocating partition or packeraids in improving the uniformity of the density of the fibers as theygravitate through the chute, very favorable results are achieved byutilizing the aforementioned shutters without the verticallyreciprocating partition or packer therebetween, depending upon thenature of the fibers and the end result desired. It is important thatthe shutters move inwardly sufficiently to compress or squeeze the massof fibers sufficiently to cause the aforesaid vertical elongation orlifting movement of the mass to achieve the desired evening action.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which 'FIG. 1 is a partially schematicside elevation showing a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention adapted for feeding fibers to a carding machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken substantially alongline 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial side view of the chute shown in theleft-hand portion of FIG. 1 and showing, in particular, the means foroperating the movable partition and the oscillating shutters;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the carding machine and fiber feeding apparatusshown in FIG. 1 showing the driving mechanism for the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially alongline 55 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 66 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 3, showing a modified form ofthe chute and associated calender rolls;

FIGS. 8 and 8A are schematic views related to the theory of operation ofthe present invention; and

FIGS. 9 and 9A are schematic views related to the theory of operation ofa typical prior art upright fiber feeding chute.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in FIG. 1,

1 designates the main cylinder or swift of a carding machine, 2 is thedotfer cylinder, 3 is the lickerin, 4- is the feed apron of a feeder orconveying apparatus F with its removing cylinder 5, and 6 is adistribution shutter which discharges fibers from the feeder into theopen upper end of a tubular fiber feeding conduit, chute or shaft Swhich is preferably substantially rectangular in plan (FIG. 2) and is acomponent of the improved fiber feeding unit A of the present invention.Chute S is open at its top and bottom and may be suitably supported infixed relation to the carding machine.

A movable separating partition 7 is shown positioned in a medial portionof and divides chute S into two compartments 8, 8'. Opposed oscillatingshutters 9, 9' form therebetween the outlet of chute S. In practice ithas been determined that the vertical length of shutters 9, 9 may beabout one-fifth the total height of chute S. De pending upon the type offibers being fed, chute S may be from about 3 inches to 7 inches widebetween its front and rear walls, and the height of the shutters 9, 9'should be at least about twice the thickness of the chute between itsfront and rear walls. 10, 10 are suitable overflow detectors adjacentthe open upper end of chute S and 11, 11 are compressing cylinders orcalender rolls which cooperate with a primary web feed roll or conveyingcylinder 12 therebeneath. Partition 7 is guided,

by guides 14, 14', for vertical movement between opposed side walls ofchute S and parallel to the longitudinal or vertical axis of chute S.Preferably, partition 7 is in the center of chute S so the twocompartments 8, 8 are the same size. Only one movable partition 7 andtwo oscillating shutters 9, 9' are shown. It is apparent, however, thatthe apparatus may include several vertical partitions which may beinterconnected or may operate independently of each other, as well asseveral other oscillating shutters.

The longitudinal or vertical reciprocation of partition 7 may beeffected by means of a gear 15 fixed on the axis of doffer cylinder 2(FIG. 1) and connected, through the intermediary of gears 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, shaft 22 and gears 23, 24 to a sprocket wheel 25, the latterbeing connected by means of an endless chain 26 to a sprocket wheel 27.Sprocket wheel 27, a cam or eccentric 28 and sprocket wheels 29, .29(FIGS. 2 and 3) are suitably journaled for rotation in fixedrelationship on a medial portion of one side wall of chute S.

:Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, it is seen that eccentric 28 is engagedthereabove by a roller or follower 30 journaled on a support 31 suitablysecured to a portion of partition 7 projecting through the suitablyslotted Wall of chute S. In this manner, upon each revolution ofeccentric 28, partition 7 is pushed upwardly and then returns to itsstarting position, through the force of its own weight.

Shutters 9, 9' (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5) may be located inside chute Sadjacent its open lower end or the lower edges of the front and rearwalls of chute S may terminate adjacent the upper portions of shutter 9,9'. Shutters 9, 9' have respective outwardly extending or offsetportions 9a, 9a which in turn are journaled or hinged adjacent theirupper or outer edges, as at 32, 32', adjacent the front and rear wallsof chute S with such offset portions assuring a vertically upwardmovement being imparted to opposing faces of the shutters during theirinward movement towards each other as best illustrated in FIG. 7. Thedistal surfaces of shutters 9, 9 are engaged by respective cams oreccentrics 33, 33' fixed on shafts 33a. Shafts 33a have sprocket wheels34, 34' fixed thereon which are connected to sprocket wheels 29, 29' byendless chains 35, 35 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The cams 33, 33 should be shaped so that they will move shutters 9, 9'inwardly from substantially vertical positions substantially inalignment with the fixed front and rear walls thereabove of chute S toangular positions wherein opposing faces of the shutters have movedvertically upward and such that the lower edges of shutters 9, 9 eachmove through a distance at least about 15% to 20% of the total internalwidth of chute S during each oscillation thereof, depending upon thenature of the fibers being fed. However, assuming the shutters are movedsimultaneously and that both shutters have the same amplitude ofmovement, as is preferred, the lower edge of each shutter may have arange of movement up to about or more of the total internal width of thechute, depending upon the nature of the fibers being fed. It followsthat, collectively, the lower edges of shutters 9, 9 should move througha distance equal to at least about 30% to 40% of the total distancetherebetween when they occupy fully outward positions, and preferablythe lower edges of the shutters should have a collective amplitude ofmovement up to about or more of the total distance between their openpositions.

It is preferred that the speed of cams 33, 33' is such that about to 200oscillations per minute are imparted to shutters 9, 9'. The return ofthe shutters 9, 9' into their open or apart, substantially verticalposition is obtained on the one hand through their own weight, and onthe other hand through the pressure exerted upon their proximal surfacesby the fibers contained in chute S.

It is apparent, therefore, that shutters 9, 9 apply an intermittentrelatively slow, large amplitude lateral squeezing force and liftingmovement to the mass of fibers therebetween. The relative positions ofeccentrics 28, 33, 33' is such that, when partition 7 is up or moving toits relatively high position, shutters 9, 9' are positioned near eachother, and vice versa, when partition 7 is down, or moving toward itslowermost position, shutters 9, 9' occupy their outermost or mostspread-apart position. Additional driving elements, corresponding toelements 28, 29, 29', 31, 33, 33', 34, 34', 35, 35' may be providedadjacent the opposite side of chute S from that shown, if desired.

Rotation of the calender rolls or compressing cylinders 11, 11 and theconveying cylinder 12 (FIGS. 3 and may be effected conveniently by meansof their coupling to the driving mechanism of the conventional lickerinfeeding cylinder or secondary feed roll 37 (FIG. 4) on the cardingmachine. To this end, a pinion 38, fixed to one end of roll 37 (FIG. 4)is connected by means of gears 39, 40 to a gear 41 in fixed axialrelation to conveying cylinder 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Cylinder 12 carriesalso a sprocket wheel 42 connected by means of an endless chain 43 to asprocket wheel 44 in fixed axial relation to one end of compressingcylinder 11 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

The connection between cylinders 11 and 11' may be effected by sprocketwheels 45, 46 connected by an endless chain 47 held taut by an idler 48.For the purpose of giving a certain flexibility to the pulling of themass of fibers, each bearing of cylinder 11 may be held in its seatingor housing by means of an adjustment screw 50 and springs 49, 49'. Inthis manner, cylinder 11' may, within certain limits, come closer to orbe moved further away from cylinder 11 by the fibers.

METHOD OF OPERATION The fibrous stock removed by cylinder 5 fromconveying apron 4 (FIG. 1) is distributed by shutter 6 into the twocompartments 8, 8 of deposit shaft or chute S. When the level of thefibers has reached the position of feeling shutters 10, the lattertopple or rock and stop the driving motor, not shown, of conveyor 4,thus avoiding clogging of the shaft S. The operation of the overflowdetector is not explained in detail herein, since such detectors arewell-known in the textile industry.

Even though the chute may be filled with fibers, the pressure exerted bythe column or mass of fibers therein is practically insignificantinsofar as compacting and intermixing the fibers to achieve uniformityof weight per unit length of the lap or web is concerned. For example,assuming that opened cotton fibers weigh about 34 pounds per cubic yardand that a typical chute S is about 78 inches high x 39 inches wide x 4inches thick, the volume of the mass is then 13,168 cubic inches orabout .282 cubic yard, and the cross-sectional area of the chute is 156square inches. Thus, the total weight of the column of fibers in thechute would be about .282 34=9.58 pounds and the pressure exerted by thecolumn of fibers would be about 9.58/156=.060 pounds per square inch. Itcan be appreciated, therefore, that the Weight of the fibers, in theabsence of substantial motion or agitation, is practically ineffectiveto impart uniform density to the mass. Even though prior art chutes havebeen equipped with rapidly quivering side walls of low amplitude motionheretofore in attempts to prevent the fibers from adhering to such sidewalls, such quivering side walls have very little effect in improvingthe density throughout the mass of fibers in the chute.

According to this invention, however, the relatively slow oscillation ofthe shutters 9, 9 and, more importantly, the relatively large amplitudeof oscillation of the shutters improves the uniformity and density ofthe fibers in the chute to an extent heretofore unattainable to myknowledge. That is, during each oscillation of shutters 9, 9, the loweredges thereof move inwardly a distance equal to at least about to of thetotal internal width of the chute. In so doing, the shutters apply acompressive force to the fibers which is of gradually increasingamplitude toward the bottom of the mass because of the pivotal mountingof the upper portions of the shutters. This compressive force andassociated vertical movement of the opposing faces of the shuttersthrusts fibers upwardly thereby vertically elongating the fibrous mass,with most of the elongation being effected in the upward direction. Suchinward movement of the shutters 9, 9 also progressively reduces thethickness of the fibrous mass in its course to the calendar rolls orcylinders 11, 11'.

As shutters 9, 9' are permitted to move outwardly by cams 33, 33, theyquickly substantially release the lifted fibrous mass therebetween sothat most of the fibers gravitate or fall downwardly. Thus, by thisprocess, the potential energy of the fibers stored in the chute isaugmented by a kinetic energy which is a function of the amplitude andthe frequency of the vertical motions of the fibers in the chute. Thisvertical movement or agitation of the fibrous mass contributes greatlyto the uniform weight or density of the fibrous mass emerging frombetween the loWer edges of the shutters 9, 9'.

Although satisfactory results have been achieved by use of the shutters9, 9' alone for operating upon the fibers in the chute S, the feeding ofthe fibers and the density of the mass may be augmented by the novelpartition 7. In operation, through its up-and-down motion, the partition7 serves as a ram and packs the fibers and pushes them toward the exitformed by the nip of the two compressing cylinders 11, 11'.

Since partition 7 is not connected integrally with eccentric 28, theextent of its vertical path, therefore, varies according to the densityof the fibrous mat being subjected to its packing action. To accentuatethe action of partition 7, its lower end may be advantageously providedwith a packer or compressor 36 of suitable shape, such as shown in FIGS.2, 3 and 5. The force of the active strokes of partition 7 may be eitherreduced or increased by modifying the Weight of partition 7.

The rate of production of a carding machine is determined by thecircumferential speed of doffer cylinder 2. In case said speed changes,the frequency of the strokes of partition 7 upon the fibers, as well asthe frequency of the oscillations of shutters 9, 9', are automaticallymodified and adapted to the new rate of production since their actuationis effected directly from doffer cylinder 2, as heretofore described.Since cylinders 11, 11' are disposed adjacent the rear portion of theconventional feed table 51 of the carding machine, the fibrous mat orWeb, after being condensed as explained above, is finally di rected tolickerin 3 (FIG. 1) by conveying cylinder 12, feed table 51 and feedcylinder 37 (FIG. 4).

The partition and shutters may be made of any type of material,provided, however, that this material be sufficiently rigid to withstandthe mechanical stress to which such parts are subjected. As an example,these parts may be made of metal or plastic material with or without ametallic frame. The surfaces of the parts which come into contact withthe fibers may be smooth or granular, according to the nature of thefibers being processed on the carding machine. Also, in case it isadvantageous that said surfaces not be smooth, it is possible to give tothe shutters and partitions a certain longitudinal or transverse rippleor corrugation, either by making them so that the as sembly of all theparts has a certain ripple, or by covering the rigid support of eachpart with a removable or non-removable surface with said ripple orcorrugation thereon.

For example, the shutters and partitions may be composed of rigid flatplates on which corrugated-material sheets are fixed. Also, saidsurfaces may be made of a material such that it exerts an attractingelectrostatic action upon the dust or waste material which is mixed withthe fibers to be processed. In this instance, the carding machine may beequipped with an attached device, not shown, which enables for example,by establishing an electric connection between said surfaces, toshort-circuit them, which causes the dust or waste material accumulatedupon said surfaces to fall. The shape of the vertical partition andoscillating shutters may also be of any type. Square, rectangular,trapezoidal or elliptical shapes, for example, may be used.

It is of course possible to bring many variations and modifications tothe embodiment described herein without departing from the scope of thepresent invention and, although a carding machine is shown, it iscontemplated that the present apparatus and method may be used forforming and feeding a fibrous web to other textile machines such aspickers, gilling machines or any other machine for processing a web ofuniform density.

The second embodiment of the invention (FIG. 7) is similar to theembodiment of FIGS. 1-6 and will bear the same reference characterswhere applicable. Essentially, the embodiment of FIG. 7 shows the rolls11, 11' spaced further apart than they are in FIG. 3 and a second pairof nip or compressing rolls 60, 60 is spaced below rolls 11, 11' in FIG.7 and above feed roll 12. Accordingly, as the fibers emerge from betweenshutters 9, 9' in FIG. 7, rolls 11, 11' aid in guiding the stock awayfrom shutters 9, 9 and in presenting the stock to the nip of rolls 60,60' where the stock is compressed into a web and delivered to the feedroll 12.

Also, in FIG. 7, there are shown modified cams 33b, 3312' which mayreplace cams 33, 33' of FIG. 3. It will be noted that, instead of cams33b, 33b being in the form of circular eccentrics as is the case withcams 33, 33' in FIG. 3, each of the cams 33b, 3312' has a lobe thereonproviding a slow rise surface 33c and a quick drop surface 33d. Thus, ascams 33b, 33b rotate in the directions indicated in FIG. 7, the shutters9, 9' are moved inwardly relatively slowly, As the lobes move outwardly,however, they release shutters 9, 9 quite suddenly so they may return toopen position at a relative fast speed. This further contributes to aquick dropping of the raised fibers and to consequent intermixing andcompacting of the fibers.

In the operation of both forms of the invention, 1t 18 to be understoodthat cams 33, 33' and 33b, 331) may be formed or positioned so theshutters 9, 9 will occupy an angular position inwardly of the verticalposition when they are fully opened, without departing from thenvention. For example, shutters 9, 9' each may be disposed at an angleof about when they are fully opened and during each oscillation, thelower edge of each shutter may then be moved inwardly a distance atleast equal to about to 20% of that distance between the shutters whenthey occupy fully opened pos1t1on.

In order that the full significance of the invention may be clearlyunderstood, reference is made to FIGS. 8 and 9 wherein a comparison ismade between the chute of the instant invention and a typical prior artchute.

In the prior art chute S (FIG. 9), it will be noted that the pressureindicated by arrows 65 (usually an pressure, if any) acting on thefibrous mass M is substantially constant throughout the upper surface ofthe mass M, and even though opposed walls of the latter chute may bevibrated in the manner suggested by known prior art, such vibration isonly effective adjacent the outer side portions of the mass very closeto the vibrating side walls. Additionally, as the fibers reach the rolls11a, 11a of the prior art chute S, the force of the fibers against therolls tends to resist or oppose the frictional force of the rolls actingupon the fibers, as indicated by the force arrows 66, 67, duringrotation of the rolls so that, not only is the fibrous mass ofnon-uniform density as it approaches the nip of the rolls, but thefibers are also caused to ball up, twist and become entangled with oneanother, thereby further detrimentally affecting the uniformity of themass. This is also caused to a substantial degree by the fact that, asshown in the upper portion of 8 FIG. 9A, the mass may have asubstantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration in plan, butupon passing through the nip of the rolls 11a, 11a, the mass is abruptlycompressed to a narrow strip of relatively small horizontalcross-section as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 9A.

On the other hand, it will be observed in FIG. 8A that, although themass of fibers on each side of the vertically reciprocating partition 7(FIG. 8) is of considerable area and is of substantially rectangularconfiguration in plan, the oscillating lateral squeezing force beingapplied to the fibers by the oscillating shutters 9, 9 of the instantinvention gradually reduces the horizontal crosssectional area of themass of fibers P in addition to improving the uniformity in the densitythereof. Thus, by the time the fibers reach the nip of the compressingrolls 11, 11', the fibers will have already been condensed substantiallyand reduced in thickness so that there is no balling or twisting of thefibers in their course downwardly through the chute during the reductionin the cross-sectional area in the mass of fibers as they are receivedbetween the compressing rolls. Thus, not only is the mass of fibers ofsubstantially uniform density as it is delivered by the compressingrolls 11, 11' or 60, but it is also substantially free of twists, knots,tangles, wads, balls and other objectionable formations of fibers withinthe overall mass of fibers as it is being delivered to the correspondingcarding machine or the like.

In the drawings and specification their have been set forth preferredembodiments of the invention and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I-claim:

1. A method of feeding and condensing loose fibers to form a web ofsubstantially uniform density irrespective f the mass of the fibersbeing fed, said method utilizing a substantially upright open bottomedchute and a pair of calender rolls adjacent the open bottom of thechute; said method comprising intermittently applying a predetermineddownward yielding force to a relatively narrow area of fibers in amedial portion of the chute adjacent and above the calender rolls, andsimultaneously alternately laterally compressing and releasing thefibers by applying an intermittent lateral squeezing force to the massof fibers adjacent opposite sides of said area as said mass of fibersadvances toward the calender rolls to vertically agitate the fibers andcause the mass of fibers to move with substantially uniform density tothe calender rolls, and withdrawing fibers from the chute between thecalender rolls.

2. A method of compacting a column of loose fibers in an upright openbottom chute while feeding the column of fibers away from the bottom ofthe chute in the form of a condensed mass and wherein the chute isprovided with a spaced pair of opposing pivotally suspended oscillatableshutters adjacent the bottom thereof between which the column of fiberspass from the chute, and wherein the shutters have a vertical lengthsubstantially less than the height of the chute; said method comprisingoscillating the shutters toward and away from each other to compact andreduce the thickness of the mass of fibers in the lower end of thecolumn at least 30 to 40 percent and while causing the opposing faces ofthe shutters to move vertically upward and to lift the compacted mass offibers therebetween and the remainder of the column of fibersthereabove, while effecting thereby a lifting and dropping movement tothe column of fibers whereby the kinetic energy thus imparted to thefibers in the column increases the compacting thereof.

3. A method according to claim 2 including intermittently applying apredetermined downward yielding force to the mass of fibers in the lowerend of the column to thereby increase the compacting of the same.

4. Apparatus for feeding and condensing loose fibers to form a web ofsubstantially uniform density irrespective of the mass of the fibersbeing fed; said apparatus comprising a substantially upright openbottomed chute, a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent the open bottomof said chute, means for intermittently applying a predetermineddownward yielding force to a relatively narrow area of fibers in amedial portion of said chute adjacent and above the calender rolls, andmeans operatively associated with said first-named means for applying anintermittent lateral squeezing force to the mass of fibers adjacentopposite sides of said area to alternately compress and release thefibers and thereby effect repeated vertical upward elongation and thenrelease of the mass of fibers and cause the same to move with uniformdensity as said mass of fibers advances toward and is withdrawn fromsaid chute between said calender rolls.

5. In a fiber feeding apparatus for textile machines, said apparatusincluding a substantially upright, walled, substantially rectangulartubular chute adapted to receive opened fibers in its upper portion andhaving an open bottom, and a pair of driven compressing rolls adjacentthe open bottom of said chute; the combination therewith of a pair ofshutters having lower edges adjacent said rolls and extendingsubstantially parallel to said rolls, means pivotally supporting theupper portions of said shutters adjacent front and rear Walls of saidchute, a substantially vertical partition mounted for vertical movementin said chute with at least a lower portion of said partition beinglocated between said shutters, drive means operatively connected to saidshutters and said partition for oscillating said shutters about theirrespective axes relative to said partition and for imparting verticalreciprocatory motion to said partition so as to pack and push fibers insaid chute against said rolls, and said drive means including means formoving said shutters inwardly toward each other during each upwardmovement of said partition and permitting outward movement of saidshutters during each downward movement of said partition.

6. Web forming and feeding apparatus for textile fibers comprising asubstantially upright tubular chute open at its opposite ends andadapted to receive loose fibers through its upper end, a pair of drivencompressing rolls adjacent the lower end of said chute, at least onepartition mounted in and extending parallel to the vertical axis of saidchute, means for reciprocating said partition within said chute parallelto said axis with the lower end of said partition moving adjacent saidcompressing rolls so as to push thetfibers toward said rolls, at leastone shutter pivotally suspended for oscillatory inward and outwardlateral movement adjacent to and toward and away from one side of saidpartition, the lower edge of said shutter also being positioned adjacentsaid compressing rolls, and means for oscillating said shutter to suchextent as to repeatedly compress and substantially release the fibers tocause the fibers to move with substantially uniform density beneath saidpartition as they are pushed toward said rolls by said partition.

7. In a fiber feeding apparatus having a substantially upright tubularchute for receiving fibers in its upper portion and having front andrear walls and an open bottom, and a pair of driven rolls adjacent saidopen bottom for receiving therebetween, and advancing fibers from saidchute; the combination therewith of at least one substantially verticalpartition mounted for substantially vertical movement within said chuteand dividing the same into at least two-fiber-receiving compartmentswith the lower end of said partition positioned adjacent said rolls,means for impairing vertical reciprocatory movement to said partition sothat it pushes fibers therebeneath toward said rolls, a pair of shutterspivotally mounted at their upper ends adjacent said walls and extendingdownwardly with their lower edges adjacent said rolls so fibers in saidchute are received between said shutters, and means operativelyconnected to said shutters for oscillating the same inwardly andoutwardly relative to each other such that the shutters convergedownwardly during each inward movement thereof to compress andvertically elongate the fibrous mass in the upward direction andsubstantially release the fibrous mass during each outward movement ofthe shutters to improve the uniformity in density of the mass andmaintain fibers beneath said partition while progressively reducing thethickness of the mass of fibers in its course to said rolls.

8. In a fiber feeding apparatus for textile machines, said apparatusincluding a substantially upright walled, substantially rectangulartubular chute adapted to receive opened fibers in its upper portion andhaving an open bottom, and a pair of driven compressing rolls adjacentthe open bottom of said chute; the combination therewith of a pair ofshutters having lower edges adjacent said rolls and extendingsubstantially parallel to said rolls, means pivotally supporting theupper portions of said shutters adjacent front and rear walls of saidchute, a substantially vertical partition mounted for vertical movementin said chute with at least a lower portion of said partition beinglocated between said shutters, drive means operatively connected to saidshutters and said partition for oscillating said shutters about theirrespective axes relative to said partition and for imparting verticalreciprocatory motion to said partition so as to pack and push fibers insaid chute against said rolls, said drive means including a rotary camadjacent said partition and being mounted for rotation on asubstantially horizontal axis, and a follower carried by said partitionand bearing against and being supported, along with the weight of saidpartition, by said cam so the force applied against the fibers by thelower edge of said partition may correspond to the weight of saidpartition and its follower.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,070,847 1/1963 Schwab 19204FOREIGN PATENTS 953,587 12/1956 Germany 19875 6,901 Great Britain191-161 886,397 l/l962 Great Britain 19-105 117,209 5/1958 U.S.S.R.19-204 119,461 7/1959 U.S.S.R. 19--105 OTHER REFERENCES Meinicke: Germanapplication 1,202,689 printed Oct. 7, 1965.

DORSEY NEWTON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 1997.5, 204

